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Frontiers in Optics

Observation of Large Optical Forces in Modulated Light*

X. Miao, Tianshi Lü, Esther Wertz, Martin Cohen, H. Metcalf

Published Jan 1, 2006• 0 citations
Publisher

Abstract

Light that is both frequency and amplitude modulated can produce huge optical forces by adiabatic exchange of momentum between atoms and the light field. Such forces can both manipulate and cool atomic beams and vapors. We have measured such forces in metastable 23S He to be up to 10 × stronger than the ordinary radiative force.
DOI
10.1364/fio.2006.jwd120

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We have demonstrated that coherent control of the momentum exchange between a light field and atoms can be implemented in frequency-modulated light. The optical parameters are chosen to drive the atoms between ground and excited states by adiabatic rapid passage in counterpropagating modulated light beams. We apply the optical force transversely to a thermal atomic beam, and the deflection provides a measure of the force. The modulation period is 2?/?s<<?, and each half-cycle exchanges momentum 2k, so the resulting force is much greater than the ordinary radiative force. Moreover, the velocity range of the force in such a light field is much greater than that of the radiative force. This constitutes another example of the huge range of capabilities of optical forces in non-monochromatic light.
Periodic adiabatic rapid passage from counterpropagating light pulses is used in a parameter domain outside of the conventionally expected successful range to produce large optical forces on atoms by coherent control of the momentum exchange between the light and atoms. Both the magnitude and velocity range are much larger than those of the usual radiative force. We observed the force on metastable He atoms by the deflection of the atomic beam with periodic pulse sequences. We have also been able to map out the force magnitude in the two-dimensional parameter space of peak Rabi frequency and sweep range, and we find qualitative agreement with our model.
Over the past 30 years, optical manipulation of neutral atoms has been primarily performed with a monochromatic laser beam. The simplest tool for the control of atomic motion is the radiative force exerted by a monochromatic laser on a twolevel atom. The radiative force arises from absorption followed by spontaneous emission, and its magnitude is limited by the atom's excited state lifetime. The coherent momentum exchanges between light elds and atoms can be exploited to produce long-range optical forces much greater than the radiative force through the use of absorption-stimulated emission processes. Adiabatic Rapid Passage (ARP) is a long-existing method to invert the population of a two-level nuclear spin system. Its extension to the optical domain necessitates a frequency chirped light pulse to interact with a two-level atom via the dipole interaction. I will first present a numerical study of the properties of optical forces on moving atoms derived from purely stimulated processes produced by multiple ARP sequences. This will be followed by experimental observations of long-range ARP forces much larger than the radiative force in metastable helium. Sequences of properly timed laser pulses may be used for rapid deceleration of neutral atomic (or molecular) beams. | 171 pages
The limit of $\ensuremath{\Elzxh}k\ensuremath{\gamma}/2$ imposed on the magnitude of radiative forces by the spontaneous decay rate $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ of the excited state can be overcome by coherent control of the momentum exchange between atoms and the light field. This can be implemented with two light beams, each containing two frequencies whose phases, amplitudes, and frequency difference are carefully chosen. We have made precise measurements of the extremely large magnitude and velocity range of this bichromatic force, and have shown that its velocity dependence near the edge of its range is suitable for atomic beam slowing and laser cooling. Our measurements have corroborated various models and calculations of this bichromatic force.
The spontaneous decay rate $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ of excited atomic states limits the radiative force on atoms to $\ensuremath{\Elzxh}k\ensuremath{\gamma}/2.$ This bottleneck in the dissipative exchange of momentum between atoms and light can be overcome by coherent control of the momentum exchange interactions. The bichromatic force provides such control by using stimulated instead of spontaneous emission to produce the force, while at the same time exploiting spontaneous emission to enable a dissipative interaction. It is implemented with two counterpropagating light beams, each containing two frequencies, whose phases, amplitudes, and frequency difference are carefully chosen. We have made precise measurements of the extremely large magnitude and velocity range of this bichromatic force, and have shown that its velocity dependence near the edge of its range is suitable for atomic beam slowing and laser cooling. Our measurements have corroborated various models and calculations of this bichromatic force.